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I'm sure. I guess I don't drive my Impreza aggressively enough that it would make much difference. I'm sure if I had the base model, I'd probably be dissatisfied with the body roll. But the Sport Premium does have a sway bar that's good enough for my driving style.

The bigger the bar the less body roll obviously and greater the oversteer. But with the body rolling less that energy has to be transferred somewhere - and that is to the tires, so a bigger bar is going to make your tires work that much harder. A slightly larger front bar will help offset some of that, but again, that energy has to go somewhere in the front too. In my experience all that is fine in the dry but in the wet and the snow a huge rear bar could make things a little squirrelly if you are not careful.

So is 19mm too much or about right? I know an 18 is available as well.

I can't say on this particular vehicle as I don't own it, I just know from past Imprezas I have owned the 19 made a very nice difference. I had an adjustable one on my 2005, it was 20/22 and I felt like the 22 was too much and made it easy for the rear end to step out and I kept it on 20.

Hope that helps. I am sure others can weigh in that actually have this on their '12+

I'm sure. I guess I don't drive my Impreza aggressively enough that it would make much difference. I'm sure if I had the base model, I'd probably be dissatisfied with the body roll. But the Sport Premium does have a sway bar that's good enough for my driving style.

Considering the base model doesn't have a sway bar =0

A friend of mine got the base hatch, and one of his first upgrades was installing the OEM sway bar found in the premium and limited. BIG difference he says.

So is 18mm a better idea? I'm sure I could get used to 19 if it handles better that way.

It honestly depends on how you drive. I know not everyone has the opportunities to be have a race car. But true drivers dont buy new suspension parts and get used to them. They buy parts that suits them. Some people like to have understeer and some like to oversteer. So what "handles" better is subjective. The different of 1mm to the run of the mill novice driver will never be able to tell. 22 mm on the other hand is probably too much. Get what ever is cheaper.

It honestly depends on how you drive. I know not everyone has the opportunities to be have a race car. But true drivers dont buy new suspension parts and get used to them. They buy parts that suits them. Some people like to have understeer and some like to oversteer. So what "handles" better is subjective. The different of 1mm to the run of the mill novice driver will never be able to tell. 22 mm on the other hand is probably too much. Get what ever is cheaper.

LOL sorry if i offended you. most people i see in these forum will buy parts not really understanding the behaviors of a car or the driving style and try to adjust to the cars new behaviors. For example, I was at a race event and there was a new guy with a mini. he recently bought a suspension for it. there setup was pretty good in my opinion. it was set for oversteer which will allow for turning with the rear end with a little slide. but when got on the track, he kept over oversteering to the point it made the car way slower when stock. he had a "good" setup but it wasn't setup for him. in some scca autox classes i know some s2000 drivers take off the rear sway bars.

I am suggesting you find out what kind of driving style do you like. do you like safe understeering or do you like fun oversteering? 18 or 19 would be fine, you probably wont feel the difference between the two. just get whatever is cheaper.

i dont think i ever said your impreza is not a race car. but im not saying it is. for me personally, stock is alright with me. this is my eco box. i alright have a fun car. if you want stiff and be a little tail happy get 22 mm. it is up to you. we cant tell you how you drive. too much stiffness makes a harsh ride. too small of a bar makes it a rolly-polly.

LOL sorry if i offended you. most people i see in these forum will buy parts not really understanding the behaviors of a car or the driving style and try to adjust to the cars new behaviors. For example, I was at a race event and there was a new guy with a mini. he recently bought a suspension for it. there setup was pretty good in my opinion. it was set for oversteer which will allow for turning with the rear end with a little slide. but when got on the track, he kept over oversteering to the point it made the car way slower when stock. he had a "good" setup but it wasn't setup for him. in some scca autox classes i know some s2000 drivers take off the rear sway bars.

I am suggesting you find out what kind of driving style do you like. do you like safe understeering or do you like fun oversteering? 18 or 19 would be fine, you probably wont feel the difference between the two. just get whatever is cheaper.

i dont think i ever said your impreza is not a race car. but im not saying it is. for me personally, stock is alright with me. this is my eco box. i alright have a fun car. if you want stiff and be a little tail happy get 22 mm. it is up to you. we cant tell you how you drive. too much stiffness makes a harsh ride. too small of a bar makes it a rolly-polly.

Haha, I was just being sarcastic, I suppose that doesn't translate at all over the internets. That said I see the point you are trying to make. Right now I'm going for balance, I don't really like like understeer at all, and ideally would like something in the middle leaning toward a little oversteer.

Haha, I was just being sarcastic, I suppose that doesn't translate at all over the internets. That said I see the point you are trying to make. Right now I'm going for balance, I don't really like like understeer at all, and ideally would like something in the middle leaning toward a little oversteer.

lol alrighty then. im pretty sure that is your answer. the stock suspension is setup for understeering because it is safe. if it were me i would go 19 and if i were to use this car more than an eco box. 22 is more a performance platform for more oversteer. 19 maybe a little stiff but definitely decrease body roll. again between 18 and 19, it is already a step up from stock and i think you should be fine with either one.

lol alrighty then. im pretty sure that is your answer. the stock suspension is setup for understeering because it is safe. if it were me i would go 19 and if i were to use this car more than an eco box. 22 is more a performance platform for more oversteer. 19 maybe a little stiff but definitely decrease body roll. again between 18 and 19, it is already a step up from stock and i think you should be fine with either one.

I wouldn't mind a little more stiffness. this car is riding a really fine line between super refined suspension and a touch too soft in the corners...just. If the sway bar will help then I will definitely do it.

I wouldn't mind a little more stiffness. this car is riding a really fine line between super refined suspension and a touch too soft in the corners...just. If the sway bar will help then I will definitely do it.

well, when i said stiffer, i was relating that to the body roll. there will less of it so it will feel stiffer in the corners. not for rides and bumps or dips that has alot to do with braces, springs, and struts. but yes in the corners a stiffer bar will help it stiffen out. and the stuff people are saying about energy transfer to the tires. i mean, everything you do is transfered to the tires. accelerate, brake, and turning. a larger bar makes the car more planted. having body roll is what causes offsetting the car from left to right. but having a very large bar could be detrimental to inclement driving. 19mm is not very large. large but not gigantic.

well, when i said stiffer, i was relating that to the body roll. there will less of it so it will feel stiffer in the corners. not for rides and bumps or dips that has alot to do with braces, springs, and struts. but yes in the corners a stiffer bar will help it stiffen out. and the stuff people are saying about energy transfer to the tires. i mean, everything you do is transfered to the tires. accelerate, brake, and turning. a larger bar makes the car more planted. having body roll is what causes offsetting the car from left to right. but having a very large bar could be detrimental to inclement driving. 19mm is not very large. large but not gigantic.

google "sway bays work". they are sometimes called anti-sway bars.

Ah ok, I see what you are saying now. I suppose that would be ideal in my mind. For some reason I assumed you meant suspension compliance, which I assumed was changed but not nearly enough to make a big difference.

Hey guys, new to the Subaru gang. Just about to get my '12 impreza hatch base delivered .

Just got the usual not sure questions to put out there as I couldn't find any in the forums.
1. Coil springs (coil overs not sure what's what) yes or no? Or what are people using to drop their ride? I'm not 100% as my first and only car was/is a mini truck so I've got leaf kits.
2. Any news on CAIs? Has anyone upgraded to K&N boxes yet?
3. Looking at getting the 19mm STI swaybar where's best to buy them from as I'm in Australia
4. What wheels are out there? I love the black matte look specially since I'm getting my Impreza in black. What's the best looking set out, I don't want over the top just maybe some black drift tek wheel? Thought on that would be mint.

I wanted to love it and be overwhelmed, but there just aren't enough differences in this vehicle in the interior quality, cabin noise and road feel over past NA Imprezas for me to want one. Yes, the MPG is much improved and it's AWD and a hatch, which I miss, but that wasn't enough for me to forgo the creature comforts of my TSX and trade it in.